BurmaNet News November 30, 1996 - F

Subject: BurmaNet News November 30, 1996 - FBC Update
------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------
"Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies"
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The BurmaNet News: November 30, 1996
Issue # 581
SPECIAL EDITION - FBC UPDATE
HEADLINES:
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
FBC'S THANKGIVING NOTE=20
DEMONSTRATION SHUTS DOWN BERKELEY UNOCAL FOR 3 HOURS=20
INDIANA-PURDUE: PEPSI CAMPAIGN AND RESOLUTION
UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO UPDATE
U. WISCONSIN MADISON: REMOVES PEPSI PRODUCTS FROM CAMPUS
PORTLAND FBC: BOYCOTT J.CREW - T-SHIRTS ARE FROM BURMA
RECENT COMPANY PULL OUTS FROM BURMA
RAN PROTEST OF SF'S PROPOSED CONTRACT WITH MITSUBISHI
U.S. TEENS PROTEST AT STORE SELLING MITSUBISHI PRODUCTS
FREE BURMA PUBLICATION BY A HIGH SCHOOL FBC MEMBER
ACTIVISTS IN JAPAN URGE IMMEDIATE ACTION=20
BCN PROTEST ON THE DAM AGAINST TOURISM TO BURMA
RALLIES AGAINST BURMA TOURISM IN LONDON AND BRUSSELS
10 DECEMBER BURMA PROGRAMME IN NEW DELHI
FBC MASSACHUSETTS UPDATE
ANNOUNCEMENT: AMERICAN UNIVERSITY CONFERENCE - BURMA
BURMANET SUBJECT-MATTER RESOURCE LIST
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BURMANET EDITOR'S NOTE: The Free Burma movement has achieved three importan=
t
victories this month with the pullout of Wente, Phillips, and Motorola.
Moreover, Burma has received increasing media attention around the world.
Australia's Dateline did a story on alleged links between a Singaporean
government investment fund, reputed drug dealers from Burma, and the SLORC.
The fact that heroin production rose in Burma this year, even though Khun S=
a
is now living in Rangoon, has not gone unnoticed. Recently, editorials and
commentaries condemning Burma's drug trade appeared in the Wall Street
Journal, the Far Eastern Economic Review, and the New York Times. Both
President Clinton and Hillary Clinton addressed Burma in separate speeches
in Thailand this past week, criticizing the SLORC's repressive policies and
urging support for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the pro-democracy movement. Th=
e
Free Burma movement's tourism boycott has significantly reduced the number
of tourists visiting Burma, and Pepsi boycotts are continuing on numerous
American university campuses. =20
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-
------------------
FBC'S THANKGIVING NOTE=20
November 27, 1996 (slightly abridged)
Dear Fellow Freedom Fighters:
For the Free Burma Coalition, Thanksgiving signifies something important.
Something that has already become a history. A tiny but still significant
one that has become integral to, and inseperable from, my native country's
freedom struggle, both within and without Burma.
It was with the International Day of Action for a Free Burma--October 27,
1995, a month before last year's Thanksgiving--that we opened a new chapter
in our freedom movement. Then spiders from seventy five colleges and
universities joined hands to work toward a Free and Democratic Burma with
the extensive use of the internet.
Since October of last year, collective efforts by our spiders around the
globe, have brought many victories - corporate withdrawal by
such corporations as Apple Computer Inc., Oshkosh B' Gosh, Columbia
Sportswear, Labatt's, Interbrewry, Heineken, Carlsberg, Motorola, Erickson,
and Wente Vineyard are indeed concrete vitories. And so are Free Burma
ordinances and laws at city, state, and federal levels.
Additionally, our efforts, among other things, give the freedom-loving
people of Burma a sense of hope and solidarity, and renewed strengths in
their arduous fight for human rights and democracy.
Indeed we have done much for, and with, Burmese people in their moments of
need. We have grown to become the largest internet-based human rights
struggle. And we have acted on a chillingly powerful idea, which Burma's fr=
iend
Vaclav Havel has so beautifully coined as "power of the powerless."
Therefore, there is much to celebrate on this occasion.
As you sit down with your families and loved ones at dinner tables tomorrow=
,
please observe a moment of silence or say prayers (or simply whisper "Free
Burma,") for those who have sacrificed much in pursuit of a Free and
Democratic Burma, for those faceless refugee children, men, and women from
Burma, for those young women and girls who are forced into the life of
sexual slavery in Thailand, for those Burmese students fighting against
SLORC forces along Burma's borders, for those forced laborers within Burma
working in tourism and Unocal-Total pipeline-related projects, and for thos=
e
in cities and
rural areas of Burma who can not devour a nice warm meal for the profound
fear of being taken away by SLORC's security forces and intelligence, and
for those thousands of prisoners of consicene subjected to inhuman
treatment, even as I write, in Burma's notorious jails and suffering in the
hands of highly abusive and ruthless power.
For all your committed efforts to help restore freedom in my beleagured
homeland, I, on behalf of my fellow people whose voices have been
effectively silenced and the Free Burma Coalition, would like to express my
heartfelt thanks to all of you, my fellow spiders.
I feel certain that my compatriots around the world and all the freedom
fighters inside Burma, will join me in thanking you on this occasion, only
if they know I am sending this note to you all.
As the leader of our non-violent struggle Daw Aung San Suu Kyi would say,
may you always be "free from fear and apathy"!
**********************************************************
DEMONSTRATION SHUTS DOWN BERKELEY UNOCAL FOR 3 HOURS=20
Nearly 40 activists demonstrated for three hours yesterday at the Unocal 76
gas station at the busy corner of Telegraph and Ashby in Berkeley,
California. The demonstration was co-sponsored by the Bay Area Burma
Roundtable, International Rivers Network, and the U.C. Berkeley Student
Environmental Coalition.
Our signs and banners attracted plenty of attention, and we educated a lot
of people about Unocal's involvement in the Yadana natural gas pipeline
project in Burma. We handed out flyers and there was lots of public
support, with people driving by honking their horns -- hey, it's Berkeley -=
-
and only a few cars actually stopped to fill up while we were there.
We contacted the station manager/owner the day before the demonstration.
He was not familiar with the situation in Burma. We gave him some
background information, and he was quite sympathetic, coming over to shake
hands during the demonstration, and said that he had his own problems with
Unocal Corporation. (The LA Times reported last week that Unocal is trying
to sell its gas stations in California, in order to concentrate on oil and
gas exploration abroad).
The demonstration, and news on events in Burma, were the lead story on the
evening's news on KPFA, the local public radio station.
*****************************************************************
INDIANA-PURDUE: PEPSI CAMPAIGN AND RESOLUTION
November 27, 1996
I would like to inform you our Pepsi compaign update in the Indiana-Purdue
University at Fort Wayne (IPFW). Today, our committee, Legislature Affair
Committee, had a meeting with Dr. Jhonson, a human rights expert, to
discuss about the IPFW doing business with the Slorc. He strongly support=
s
our Pepsi campaign on the campus. He said IPFW is funding the SLORC. In ou=
r
committee, we don't use Pepsi products at all. Here are our Plans:
Fund Raising for Pepsi campaign such as sell Pizza (not Pizza Hut)
and other soft-drinks in school; Organizing all campus communities and
departments to participate in our campaign; Signing Petitions; a Letter
campign to PepsiCo; Showing the video "Land of Fear"; and holding an Open F=
orum.
Excerpt from university newspaper article on the Pepsi campaign:=20
Six weeks ago, IPFW=B9s student senate was made aware of the boycott being=
=20
placed against PepsiCo. After reviewing literature and discussing the=20
statistics, some members of the senate area now asking students to get=20
informed and take action. "Educate yourself and know what=B9s going on in=
=20
the government," said Eric Ledbetter, a political science major and=20
student senate member. The boycott was issued as a result of the=20
PepsiCo=B9s continuing presence in Burma. Even though many large=20
corporations have pulled out of the Southeast Asian country, PepsiCo=20
remains a highly visible presence. =20
"PepsiCo is not being ethical. People should really think about it=20
before they renew their contracts with them," said Pon Nya, student=20
senate member and former resident of Burma. "When students boycott=20
large company investments, they are helping to restore democracy in my=20
country."
Students can boycott the corporation by simply not buying Pepsi=20
products. Pepsi products include Pepsi, 7-Up, Mountain Dew, Crush,=20
Hires, Lipton Tea, Frito-Lay, Ruffles, Sun Chips, Doritos, Cheetos,=20
RoldGold, Smartfood, Pizza Hut, KFC and Taco Bell.
"We are not asking that Pepsi products be pulled from campus," said=20
Ledbetter. "We're just asking students to think about it (boycott)." =20
According to Ledbetter, the student senate plans to contact both Indiana=20
senators to ask for their involvement in the boycott. Ledbetter is also=20
trying to get campus professors to bring the issue up in their class lectu=
res.
STUDENT SENATE RESOLUTION 1996/97
"IPSGA Support of Human Rights Campaign"
The following resolution was passed by the Indiana-Purdue Student Governmen=
t
senate today. No one voted against this resolution. The resolution was
passed smoothly. However; we had debated on this resolution last student s=
enate
meeting. Some senators were strongly against this resolution. Fortunately,
today those senators decided to support this resolution.
Whereas the chain of freedom and justice around the world is only as strong
as its weakest link, and=20
Whereas students and their families in Burma are struggling against a bruta=
l
regime, known as SLORC, to realize the universally recognized values of
freedom and justice, and
Whereas there is a natural alliance among students regardless of their
country of origin or residence, and
Whereas the Indiana-Purdue Students Government Association has a
responsibility to assist in educational projects and to foster student
involvement in the affairs of the campus and of the larger community, an=
d
Whereas more than 100 student government organizations at various
universities and colleges throughout the United States and Canada have
enacted similar resolutions, and
Whereas there is evidence to suggest that such action on the part of
students has positively influenced the behavior of our political
leaders as well as international corporations,
Be it resolved, that the Indiana-Purdue Students Government Association
shall lend its efforts to an educational campaign on this campus to
inform students about the human rights issues involved in Burma;
Be it further resolved, that this educational campaign shall consist of a
variety of tactics including, but not limited to: the creation and
distribution of fliers describing conditions in Burma and the role
that international conglomerates such as PepsiCo play in them; a
letter-writing campaign directed at these corporations, U.S. political
leaders, and SLORC itself; and an open forum and showing of the film
"Burma: Land of Fear," which shall be organized and conducted by the
Legislative Affairs Committee;
Be it further resolved, that the Indiana-Purdue Students Government
Association shall support independent efforts in this campaign, and
shall consider further efforts as it finds them to be necessary and prop=
er.
*****************************************************************
UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO UPDATE
Here at University of Chicago, the Democratic Socialists of America have
adopted an anti-corporate campaign targetting PepsiCo and the oil
companies on Burma, and Nike, Guess!, and Disney on sweatshops
(including in Burma). The University has Pepsi contracts all across
campus, and uses Pepsi-owned or -controlled Aramark for all food
service. Recently a motion was made in Student Government to obtain a=20
list of investments from the University. We will be doing outreach to other
possibly sympathetic groups and an information campaign on the issue.
*****************************************************************
U. WISCONSIN MADISON: REMOVES PEPSI PRODUCTS FROM CAMPUS
November 15, 1996
On November 15th, the Associated Students of Madison (UW_Madison's student
government) passed a selective purchasing resolution to remove Pepsi
products from Madison campus.=20
**************************************************************
PORTLAND FBC: BOYCOTT J.CREW - T-SHIRTS ARE FROM BURMA
November 27, 1996
T-shirts made in Burma were found in a J.Crew store here in Portland.
Since Christmas is coming up and our mail boxes at school are being
stuffed with J.Crew catalogs, this would be a perfect time to write
J.Crew about their investment in Burma. For extra impact mail the
catalogue back with the letter!!
Write to: J.Crew
Robert Bernard (CEO)
1 Ivy Crescent
Lynchberg, VA 24153
The Phone # to call for J. Crew is: 1-800-562-0258=20
and their web page to send a message is: http://jcrew.com/comments.html
Lewis and Clark College and the University of Oregon are also going to put
together an Asian Symposium on the third week of March. We are looking
for someone to speak about Burma and/or someone willing to put together a
performance piece (very open to ideas).
*****************************************************************
RECENT COMPANY PULL OUTS FROM BURMA
November 29, 1996 (BurmaNet)
1. WENTE VINEYARDS
2. MOTOROLA=20
3. PHILIPS ELECTRONICS
Wente was under pressure because its partner in Burma was Asia World, which
is managed by Steven Law, the son of reputed drug dealer Lo Hsing Han.
Steven Law was denied a visa to the US earlier this year because of
suspected drug links.
Other companies are feeling the pinch from selective purchasing laws in cit=
ies=20
around the United States.
Massachusetts, which has a selective purchasing law, will be releasing a li=
st of
companies that will be at a disadvantage when bidding for state contracts
because of their ties to Burma. Massachusetts assesses a 10 percent penalty
on new bids from businesses with Burma links.
In San Francisco, Burma activists have been trying to block a contract to
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries for a $136 million people-mover project at San
Francisco's city-owned airport. Mitsubishi has interests in the gas pipelin=
e=20
from Burma to Thailand.
*****************************************************************
RAINFOREST ACTION NETWORK: PROTEST SF'S PROPOSED CONTRACT WITH MITSUBISHI
November 18, 1996
from: Mark Westlund-ranmedia@xxxxxxx
On November 20th, Rainforest Action Network held a press conference
concerning SF Airport's attempts to circumvent the SF Board of Supervisors'
Burma ordinance, which forbids the city from doing business with companies
that support Burma's illegal military regime, by awarding a $137-million
contract to Mitsubishi. RAN also started its telephone and Internet campaig=
n
to direct letters to Mayor Brown protesting SF's potential culpability in
Burmese human rights abuses.
Rainforest Action Network works to protect the Earth's rainforests and
support the rights of their inhabitants through education, grassroots
organizing, and non-violent direct action.
*****************************************************************
U.S. TEENS PROTEST AT STORE SELLING MITSUBISHI PRODUCTS
November 19, 1996=20
"Nobody Beats the Wiz at Rainforest Destruction?"
Protesters call on Wiz to drop Mitsubishi
On Saturday, November 30, Framingham, about 50 members of
Defenders Of The Rainforest, Greenpeace, Rainforest Relief, Rainforest
Action Groups, Free Burma, woman's rights groups and other environmental
and social groups will hold a noisy protest featuring a 35' inflatable
chainsaw at the Nobody Beat the Wiz store in Framingham. The
protest is part of a one year old campaign to force the electronics
giant to stop selling products produced by Mitsubishi. The groups accuse
Mitsubishi of , supporting the military dictatorship in Burma which is
forcing people into slavery, being one the world's worst corporate
rainforest destroyers
and of condoning sexual harassment. Similar protests were held at Wiz
stores in New Jersey, Connecticut, and New York. Defenders of the Rainfore=
st
are all teenagers!
*****************************************************************
FREE BURMA PUBLICATION BY A HIGH SCHOOL FBC MEMBER
November 18, 1996
Hi there people. Anyhow, my name is Nick Normal and I'm a St. Louis,
Missouri Spider. I'm only 16 and I'm trying to help push human-rights as
much as I can in the local area. I am the editor and layout-artist and one
of several writers for a non-profit fanzine, or independent publication.
We're just a bunch of politically-minded teenagers trying to express our
views with the world, and our views just happen to be, in our latest issue,
Burma and the SLORC. It's a half-sized zine, or 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 and it is
printed on newsprint with soybean ink. It's 32 pages thick and 12 of those
pages are dedicated to the Burmese cause.
I've sent several copies out and about but not enough and you are the
people that made me write about Burma for the latest issue (#4) so I feel I
should share what I have made with you. I would *love* to send out copies
for free, but being a teenager with NO job money isn't all that common, so
if possible, please send $1 or 2-32 cent stamps and I will send you a copy.
If anybody would like to help distribute or pass on the word after reading
their sample copy, I would be much obliged. Until then, the struggle
continues...
*****************************************************************
ACTIVISTS IN JAPAN URGE IMMEDIATE ACTION=20
November 17, 1996
brelief@xxxxxxx
More than 35 Burmese democracy activists gathered at Takaradera Temple in
Kyoto to appraise the current situation in Burma at the seventh annual Burm=
a
Study/Action Weekend, sponsored by Burmese Relief Center,Japan. Following
last weekend's attack on Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi,
instigated by the Slorc junta, and escalating threats of violence in the
State controlled media, the group united in a call for international
sanctions on the Slorc to be put in place immediately.
Members of Burmese Relief Center -- Japan and the Tokyo-based National
League for Democracy -- Liberated Area (Japan Branch) welcomed the formatio=
n
of Burma Citizens' Forum in Tokyo, and pledged their support for this new
organization. Given the urgency of the present situation, members from
Kansai and those from Tokyo resolved to increase their cooperation and to
coordinate their activities in the following areas of concern:
"Boycott Visit Myanmar Year 1996":=20
Since Japanese constitute the largest number of tourists to Burma, this
boycott campaign is extremely important.
Increased pressure on Japanese government to cease ODA:
The Japanese government should unequivocally condemn the military regime by
imposing sanctions and by withholding all Official Development Assistance
(ODA) until positive steps toward democratization have been taken.
Boycott of companies conducting business with SLORC:
Members will redouble their efforts to call for boycotts of Japanese
companies active in Burma, including Mitsubishi, Mitsui, Daiwa Securities,
and Nippon Oil.
Protest against Chuo Kanko Tour Bus Company:
In a bid to attract more visitors from the Kansai region SLORC has
designated the Chuo Kanko Tour Bus Company of Osaka as an agent authorized
to issue tourist visas to Burma.
Demonstrations for Human Rights Day:
Coordinated demonstrations to mark Human Rights Day, December 10, 1996,
focusing on Burma will be held in Tokyo, Kobe, and other cities around Japa=
n.
.
Concern for Burmese Refugees:
With the Burmese refugee situation again critical, discussions centered on
more effective ways to raise money for relief activities. Participants als=
o
expressed deep concern was the inexcusable lack of protection accorded
Burmese refugees in Thailand, Bangladesh, and India and the recurring dange=
r
of involuntary repatriation.
http://www2.gol.com/users/brelief/Index.htm
Burmese Relief Center--Japan
266-27 Ozuku-cho, Kashihara-shi, Nara-ken 634, Japan
Tel: (07442) 2-8236 -- Fax: (07442) 4-6254, e-mail:brelief@xxxxxxx
*****************************************************************
BCN: PROTEST ON THE DAM AGAINST TOURISM PLANS=20
November 18, 1996=20
Twenty members of the Burma Centrum Nederland and sympathizers demonstrated=
,
dressed up as forced laborers, on the Dam (central-square with the monument
of Freedom, GH) in Amsterdam, against the plans of the government of Myanma=
r
to develop tourism. A representative of the Burmese government in exile
(NCGUB, GH) read out a statement by Aung San Suu Kyi not to visit the
country. "Wait, do not visit Burma now. It would be a mistake to support th=
e
regime. A boycott by tourists is a sign of solidarity with the Burmese
movement for democracy." Demonstrations also took place in London, Paris,
Kopenhagen, Brussels and Geneva.
This demonstration was a subject of the news on the regional television
around Amsterdam, and made it to most newspapers (with brilliant pictures)
the next day.
*****************************************************************
RALLIES AGAINST BURMA TOURISM IN LONDON AND BRUSSELS
November 20, 1996
In Britain, the Burmese Action Group, held a rally on November 20th to call=
for
a boycott on holiday travel to Burma as a protest against the suppression o=
f
political and human rights - including the enslavement of children and
adults to build tourist facilities.
Mairead Maguire, a Nobel laureate for services to peace in Northern
Ireland read out a compilation of extracts from speeches and writings
by Aung San Suu Kyi. And an interview with Aung San Suu Kyi was also shown.
It was recorded earlier this month by Glenys Kinnock MEP and in the video,
she urged a boycott of tourism, investment and trade.
Four tour operators in Britian have dropped Burma from their schedules, but
another 30 still offer travel packages to Burma.
In Brussels on November 19th, Belgian MEP's Anne Van Lancker (socialist) an=
d
Magda Aelvoet (Green) however were present at a tourism boycott rally to
read a statement by Aung San Suu Kyi. Also present was the British MEP Jame=
s
Moorehouse (Conservative), Belgian MP Lode Vanoost (Green) and U Aung Ko,
Burmese actor (Beyond Rangoon). The demonstration was supported by KWIA
Support Group for Indigenous Peoples, International Confederation of Free
Trade Unions (ICFTU), European Trade Union Textile, Garment and Leather
(ORE/THC), International Christian Democrats.
*****************************************************************
10 DECEMBER BURMA PROGRAMME IN NEW DELHI
November 29, 1996
We are organizing a political programme on Burma on 10th December 1996 to
mark the International Human Rights Day. The details of the programme are a=
s
follows:
I. Political Programme on Burma (Discussion on Democratization in Burma)
at the Deputy Speaker Hall, Constitution Club, New Delhi
10th December 1996, 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM
This is a Political Programme on Burma in which we invite the leaders of al=
l
the major political parties of India and some influential intellectuals of
India to
participate and discuss the matters relating to Burma. Although the focus
will be on Burma, some topics relating to Burma and the region will be
discussed. The participants will discuss, as round-table discussion, the
papers which will be submitted by the speakers.
Objectives
1. To formalize the policies of Indian political parties on the restorati=
on of
=09democracy in Burma
2. To broaden Burma's democratic movement linking with people's movements
in the region
Speakers and Participants
a) The Speakers will be both from Indian political parties and intellectu=
als.
b) The participants will be from political organizations, student, youth,=
and=20
=09women's organizations, trade unions, NGOs and individuals.
c) Guests will be invited from other countries, especially from South Afr=
ica,
the Palestine and the Philippines.
Major topics of the programme
1) Militarization in Burma and in the region=20
=09-The Speaker is from the Jawaharlal Nehru University, India
2) India's support to democratization in Burma
=09 -The Speaker is from the Janata Dal Party, a partner in the
ruling =09coalition government of India=20
3) Border trade between Burma and India and the "Constructive Engagement
Policy" with SLORC
-The Speaker is Mr. George Fernandes, Member of Parliament and
President of Samata Party, one opposition political party of India
4) Students' active role in the national politics of Burma
-The Speaker is from the All Burma Students League
5) Global support to the struggle for restoration of democracy in Burma
-The Speaker is from the International Union of Socialist Youth (=
IUSY)
Art Exhibition
Paintings of the Artist Sitt Nyein Aye will be exhibited in the Constitutio=
n
Club on the same day. There will be 30 paintings (Oil on Canvas) and the
paintings describe Burma's struggle for democracy and also the culture of
Burma. The paintings will be on sale during the exhibition and the money
from the sale of
paintings will be used for the various political activities of the ABSL.
II. The Peace March =20
Timing : 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Place : Constitution Club-->Connaught Place--Constitution Club
=20
To mark the International Human Rights Day, a Peace March will be organized
jointly by the Amnesty International and International Union of Socialist
Youth (IUSY) on 10th December 1996. The Peace March will be joined by
students and youth of India, students and youth of Burma and members of Amn=
esty
International (India) and International Union of Socialist Youth. All the
interested persons are warmly invited to join the Peace March.
III. Celebration of the International Human Rights Day
Venue : Deputy Speaker Hall Constitution Club, New Delhi
Timing : 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM
=20
After the Peace March, we will celebrate the International Human Rights Day
at the same venue (Constitution Club) from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM on 10th
December 1996. This will be jointly organized by the Amnesty International =
and
IUSY. All the interested persons are invited to celebrate the Human Rights
Day by joining us.
**********************************************************
FBC MASSACHUSETTS UPDATE
November 27, 1996
1. NEXT ROUNDTABLE MEETING:=20
Tuesday, December 4, 6:30 p.m. at Franklin Research and Development, 711
Atlantic Avenue, Boston, MA 02111, (617) 423-6655. Our special guest will
probably be Marcia Poole of the BBC World Service, Burmese Section. We
hope to see you there!=20
2. UPCOMING EVENTS:
On DECEMBER 11, 1996, the Reebok Human Rights Awards will be held=20
in Boston. Thida Ma, one of Amnesty International's Prisoner of Conscience=
=20
will be one of 4 individuals presented with Reebok's annual award. Thida M=
a=20
is a doctor and short-story writer, aged 28, who was arrested with ten othe=
r=20
activists in 1993 for activities in support of the National League for
Democracy.=20
After a closed trial the following October, she was sentenced to 20 years i=
n
prison for "contact with illegal organizations, endangering public peace,
and distributing banned literature to foreign-based opposition groups."
Currently, She is in poor health, and has been kept in solitary confinemen=
t
for the past year. =20
There will be a candle light vigal and cultural presentation on December
10th to correspond with this important event. It will be held at Boston
Common near the Park Street T-Station from 5:00-6:00 p.m. For more
information, please contact Shalini Nataraj at (617) 868-6600, ext. 225.=20
On Sunday, DECEMBER 22, 1996, a presentation on Burma will be given=20
to the Ethical Society of Boston at 10:30 a.m. They will be meeting in=20
Cambridge at the Longy School of Music at 1 Follen Street, near Garden=20
Street and across from the Sheraton Commander Hotel. For more details,=20
contact Ed Roseland at (617) 479-2581.
4=09Update on New York Selective Purchasing Legislation
The log jam on the New York City Burma selective purchasing bill seems to b=
e
breaking with the release of a report on the impact of the legislation by
the Mayor's office. One contract affected by the selective purchasing bill
in New York City, if passed, would be a $1.4 million PepsiCo contract with
the Department of Corrections. The fact that the report was released means
that the bill can now continue through the legislative process. There will
probably be further hearings in January. =20
=09
For more information on the New York City bill, contact:
National Coalition Government of the Union Burma (NCGUB)*
Burma UN Service Office
777 UN Plaza, 6th Floor, New York, NY 10017
(212) 338-0048
(212) 338-0049 fax
burma1un@xxxxxxxxxxx
*****************************************************************
ANNOUNCEMENT: AMERICAN UNIVERSITY CONFERENCE - BURMA
November 25, 1996
It is with great pleasure that the Free Burma Coalition at American
University announcees that we will be hosting the Free Burma
Coalition-sponsored "South Africa of the 1990's" conference on Burma from
Jan.31st through February 4th, 1996.
We are inviting those who are active working in the Free Burma movement, in
addition to others who have worked for democracy and human rights in
Nigeria, East Timor, and South Africa.
We are also inviting anyone who is interested in the struggle for democracy
in Burma. This includes all Burmese living around the world, University
students around the world, and commutity activists and professionals workin=
g
for human rights.
The maximum number of attendees who we can feed and accommodate is 200. So
please do register as soon as possible.
Distinguished Speakers:
The confirmed keynote speakers so far are 1979 Nobel Peace Prize Recipient
Betty Williams, Dr. Sein Win, a cousin of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's trusted
colleague and cousin who heads the exiled National Coalition Government of
the Union of Burma, and Mike Jendrzejczyk, Washington Director of Human
Rights Watch/Asia. We are still waiting to hear from Nobel Peace Laureate
Wole Soyenka, and Desmond Tutu, Congressmen Patrick Kennedy and Mitch
McConnell, Dr. Owen Wiwa, brother of the late Ken Saro-Wiwa, and Constancio
Pinto, former leader of the underground movement in East Timor. It will be
a chance for Nobel Laureates to mingle with students and community
organizers across the United States, for Congressmen to meet democracy
leaders from East Timor, and for people from various continents to meet
eye-to-eye with others working for a common goal: a Free and Democratic Bu=
rma.
Objectives:
1). to continue to focus world attention on the situation in Burma,
2). to help create a sense of community for those working around the world,
3). to learn more about various aspects of the movement, both inside Burma
and internationally;
Activities:
During the day, workshops and seminars on various economic activism,
political defiance, international media and Free Burma movement, histories
and cultures of Burma, heroin production and trafficking under the current
SLORC's regime, the plight of refugees, women's issues with special
reference to sexual slavery of women in Burma, policy perspectives and
international lobbying, and so on.
During the evenings, we will have music and concerts performed by the Free
Burma activists (African, Burmese, and pop) with artistic and musical
talents. Among them are Yuzana Khin, a well-known singer and organizer
from Burma, Rev. Wrightson Tongue of New York, Nick Thomspon and David
Soergel of Stanford, and Prince Jusu Nallo of Sierra Leone.
To make registration simple, we have uploaded a registration page at our FB=
C
website at http://wicip.org/fbc/ (it's under "Burma Conference"). It
contains all logistical information about the conference. Or, if you need
more information, please contact: Jeremy Woodrum: jw1970a@xxxxxxxxxxxx or
zni@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Please register by December 20th, 1996.=20
*****************************************************************
BURMANET SUBJECT-MATTER RESOURCE LIST
BurmaNet regularly receives enquiries on a number of different=20
topics related to Burma. If you have questions on any of the=20
following subjects, please direct email to the following volunteer=20
coordinators, who will either answer your question or try to put you=20
in contact with someone who can:
Campus activism: =09zni@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Boycott campaigns: [Pepsi] ai268@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx =20
Buddhism: Buddhist Relief Mission: brelief@xxxxxxx
Chin history/culture: [volunteer temporarily away]
Fonts: =09=09tom@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
High School Activism: =09[volunteer needed]
History of Burma: zni@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
International Affairs: =09 Julien Moe: moe@xxxxxxxxxxxxx=20
Kachin history/culture: 74750.1267@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx=20
Karen history/culture: =09Karen Historical Society: 102113.2571@Compuserve.=
com
Mon history/culture: [volunteer needed]
Naga history/culture: =09Wungram Shishak: z954001@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Burma-India border Aung San Myint: aungsan@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Pali literature: =09 "Palmleaf": c/o burmanet@xxxxxxxxxxx
Pipeline Campaign =09freeburma@xxxxxxx
Resettlement info:=09refugee_help@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx=20
Rohingya culture=09=09volunteer needed
Shan history/culture: =09Sao Hpa Han: burma@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Shareholder activism: simon_billenness@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx=20
Total - France=09=09Dawn Star: cd@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx =20
Tourism campaigns: =09bagp@xxxxxxxxxx "Attn. S.Sutcliffe" =20
volunteering: =09=09refugee_help@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
World Wide Web: FreeBurma@xxxxxxxxx
Geographical Contacts:
Massachusetts=09=09simon_billenness@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx=20
[Feel free to suggest more areas of coverage]
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
FREE BURMA WEB PAGES:
http://FreeBurma.org
This single page serves only as an easy to remember URL and departure
point to resources promoting the establishment of democracy in Burma.
Please write to FreeBurma@xxxxxxxxx to add a site or for further
information." - Glen, system administrator
FREE BURMA COALITION:
to get involved in the Free Burma Coalition, send a message to:
zni@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx =20
or visit their homepage, accessible through: http:// FreeBurma.org
There is also an e-mail list-server especially for Free Burma activists
BURMANET SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION:
The BurmaNet News is an electronic newspaper covering Burma.
Articles from newspapers, magazines, newsletters, the wire
services and the Internet as well as original material are published. =20
It is produced with the support of the Burma Information Group=20
(B.I.G) and the Research Department of the ABSDF. We are also=20
grateful to many other friends around the world who send us articles
to post.
The BurmaNet News is e-mailed directly to subscribers and is
also distributed via the soc.culture.burma and seasia-l mailing lists.=20
For a free subscription to the BurmaNet News:=20
send a message to: majordomo@xxxxxxxxxxx =20
a. For the BurmaNet News only:=20
in the message, type: subscribe burmanews-l
b. For the BurmaNet News and 4-5 other messages a day:
in the message, type: subscribe burmanet-l =20
(NOTE: all lower case letters, last letter is a lower case "L", not the
numeral one).
Letters to the editor, comments or contributions of articles should be=20
sent to the editor at: strider@xxxxxxxxxxx
***************************************************